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Canada got the last hurrah at the Celebration of Light Saturday evening, closing the three-night event with a winning display. Canada was declared the winner of the event, with Brazil and China finishing second and third, respectively.

Quik Tees make courses friendly to beginner golfers, seniors

Furry Creek near Lions Bay, one of several courses where Golf BC’s ‘Quik Tees’ will be featured.

Photograph by: Submitted photo
, Vancouver Sun files

VANCOUVER - There’s a new set of front tees on a number of courses owned by the Golf BC Group.

The company has introduced what it is calling “Quik Tees,” which are placed about 150 to 200 yards away from the green.

The bright orange tees will shorten the courses to about 3,000 yards, while the established par of each hole will be maintained.

Finally, a par 5 I will be able to reach in two!

Golf BC hopes the tees will be used by golfers new to the game, junior or senior players looking for a shorter layout and families wanting to play together.

There is no green fee discount for playing the shorter tees.

Golf BC courses set up with Quik Tees include: Nicklaus North in Whistler; Mayfair Lakes in Richmond; Furry Creek near Lion’s Bay; Okanagan Golf Club (The Bear and The Quail) in Kelowna; Gallagher’s Canyon (and The Pinnacle) in Kelowna; Arbutus Ridge in Cobble Hill and Olympic View in Victoria.

JUST LIKE HOME: As she drove through the Lougheed Mall area in Coquitlam on her way to Vancouver Golf Club earlier this week, Lorie Kane noticed all the Korean-Canadian businesses in the area.

She thinks they will be a welcome sight for the large contingent of Korean players on the LPGA Tour, which visits Vancouver Golf Club Aug. 23-26 for the CN Canadian Women’s Open.

The two new par 3 holes on the front side — Nos. 3 and 7 — have recently opened for play and with some sunshine Vancouver Golf Club’s challenging greens should be rolling at 11 or 12 on the Stimpmeter come tournament time.

Both of the Monday and Wednesday pro-am tournaments that week are sold out. Clubhouse tables remain available, as does space in skyboxes near the 17th and 18th greens.

GIVE HIM A CLAP: Chilliwack Golf & Country Club assistant pro Brad Clapp continued his hot play of late by winning the annual George Williams MCL Motors Pro-Am at Vancouver Golf Club.

Clapp birdied the second hole of a four-man playoff to claim the $2,500 first-prize cheque. Clapp, North Vancouver’s Bryn Parry, Murray Poje of Tsawwassen and Coquitlam’s Matt Makinson all shot five-under 67s.

The George Williams pro-am has been contested annually at Vancouver Golf Club since 1964.

RETURN TRIP: Surrey’s Adam Svensson had to wait an extra year for his return trip to Japan. Svensson competed in the 2010 Toyota Junior Golf World Cup — where he helped Canada to a third-place finish — and was supposed to be on the Canadian team again last year.

But organizers of the annual team event cancelled last year’s tourney following the devastating tsunami that struck Japan in March of 2011.

This year’s 72-hole event goes this week and Svensson is joined on the Canadian team by Kevin Kwon of Pitt Meadows, Riley Fleming of Airdrie, Alta., and Blair Hamilton of Burlington, Ont.

Robert Ratcliffe, who operates a teaching academy at Crown Isle in Courtenay, is the coach of this year’s team. Vancouver lawyer and Golf Canada governor Mike Carroll is also along as the team captain.

Svensson, who is graduating this month from Earl Marriott secondary, is on his way to join the University of Nevada-Las Vegas Running Rebels golf team this fall.

VGT HAT TRICK: Surrey’s Ryan Williams picked up his third win of the year on the Vancouver Golf Tour on Monday, capturing the Squamish Classic. Williams, a Canadian Tour regular, shot a four-under 68 and beat Vancouver’s Oliver Tubb on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff. Williams earned $800.

OPEN SEASON: Langley’s Darren Wallace and Parker Lilly of Victoria were among 10 players who advanced through regional qualifying for next month’s RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf & Country Club. Wallace fired a three-under 68 at Calgary’s Bearspaw Country Club, while Lilly shot a 69. They advance to the final qualifier which goes July 23 at Heron Point Golf Links in Alberton, Ont.

CHIP SHOTS: Victoria’s Kevin Carrigan won last week’s B.C. Mid-Amateur Championship at Summerland Golf & Country Club. Carrigan closed with a one-under 71 to finish the 54-hole event at four-under par. Fellow Victoria resident Bryan Toth was second at two-under after closing with a two-under 70. … The B.C. Senior Women’s Championship is being contested this week at Highland Pacific Golf Club in Victoria, where Port Alberni’s Jackie Little is defending her title.

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